Travel Tales

Destination: Topanga, Los Angeles

Topanga is a small village in Los Angeles County, California. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, the community lies in Topanga Canyon and the surrounding hills on Topanga Canyon Blvd (CA 27 highway), between Woodland Hills and Malibu. It is home to many Hollywood celebrities. There are many trail paths for hiking and mountain biking in and around Topanga. The trail path leads to scenic view points. I will give details of few of the spots I have visited in Topanga.

• Rosas Overlook

  To reach this place, I drove to Stunt road from Mulholland Drive towards Saddle Peak Drive. Stop at Lois Ewen Overlook. There is a small parking lot, if full, you can park on the sides of the road. The views from this place is awesome. If the weather is clear you can see pacific ocean on one side while the Santa Monica mountains on the other. From this parking there is a small hike to Rosas overlook. Take the backbone trail road, there is a gate, so no vehicle can go on that road. Take the pitched road towards the old radio tower, after around 1500 feet take the dirt road towards Rosas overlook. This a total on 1 mile hike. The level of hike is easy. Towards the end of the hike, we need to carefully climb a small hill. Once you reach the top of rosas overlook, the view was breathtaking.

  

  
  
  
  

  The place looks like a small terrace on top of the hill. The whole cemented area is painted, also you can see the rocks near this place are painted. We spent around 1-2 hours capturing the mesmerizing view of the valley into our eyes. One can travel even with kids, but need to be very careful, as there is no safety rails on the top.

  
  
• Inn of the Seventh Ray

  One of the most romantic restuarants I have been to in Los Angeles area. I took my wife on a surprise visit to this place on her birthday, and she was amazed by the beauty of this place. This is situated at the junction of Old and new topanga canyon blvd. A Californian cuisine, made with seasonal, organic ingredients, in a woodland setting. This place looks amazing in day as well as in night. I can give more than 5 rating to this place. I would recommend anyone who wants to have a romantic dinner/lunch, should this place.

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
• Top of Topanga Overlook

  If you want a beautiful view of the San Fernando valley, hop on the south topanga canyon blvd, towards Malibu. Around 3.5 miles drive from Ventura-topanga canyon junction, will find a small parking lot with name as Top of Topanga Overlook. From the parking you can see whole valley. We also hiked to the top of the hill just next to the parking, which gives 360 degree view of the mountains and valley. There are other trails as well from this place.